Kangla
Online: Imphal: Friday, 27 March 2015.
Anomalies in
selection and appointment of three college principals by the Government on
November 14, 2014, have surfaced through RTI findings, a press release of the
All Manipur College Teachers`™ Association, AMCTA, said.
The press
statement signed by Ch. Rajen Singh, General Secretary, AMCTA, stated that Dr
Md. Rahejuddin Sheikh, Dr A. Nabachandra Singh and Dr E. Nixon`™s appointment
as college principals violated the UGC guidelines.
The RTI query
was made as per the understanding reached between the AMCTA and the Government,
represented by the Chief Minister and Education Minister on March 17, the
release said.
Elaborating
on the findings, the release said the UGC Regulations, 2010 n clause
4.2.0.(ii), so also the MPSC advertisement release in accordance for the
selection and appointment of these principals said that research guidance is an
essential qualification of the candidates.
The release
said one of the appointed principals, Dr. Md. Rahejuddin Sheikh, does not have
this qualification.
Dr. Sheikh
was awarded API score of 30, but this score can only be if the research project
results in a patented technology etc, in the case of sciences, and Dr.
Sheikh`™s assignment as nodal officer in connection with setting up of D.M.
Community College, cannot be considered equivalent to a research project, the
AMCTA release contended.
Similarly,
Dr. E. Nixon`™s project of `Application of Physical Methods in Studies of
Ancient Iron Smelting Culture of Manipur`, is certified by S. Bheigya Singh,
former joint director Art & Culture, but the certificate has no official
memo number or date of issue, the AMCTA release said.
In the case
of Dr. A Nabachandra Singh, who obtained API score of 10 in two Ph.D degrees he
is said to have obtained, the university which gave him these degrees, the CMJ
University, Meghalaya, is not recognized by the Government of Manipur.
The AMCTA
release said the organization strongly feels that the irregularities in the
screening process of the above candidates will adversely affect and discourage
the healthy academic advancement in the state especially among the college
teachers.
Hence, AMCTA
demands review and cancellation of the said appointment letters of the
Government Orders No. 7(2)/6/2003-HE dated 14/11/2014, in the larger interest
of the higher education in the state, it said.
The AMCTA had
suspended its cease work strike till the March 31, awaiting a positive response
from the Government, indicating after this date, if no action is taken, the
AMCTA will have to decide on further course of action.